When Giants Fall: Writing the Slow Decline of Powerful Characters

Part of the series Writing a Book From Start to Finish series

By J.E. Nickerson | Wise Thinkers Help Desk

In every great story, there are characters who command attention the moment they enter a scene — whether through charisma, authority, or sheer force of will. But what happens when those same characters begin to fade?

This fading is not through death or sudden defeat… but through something quieter. Slower. More tragic.

When a character’s power wanes, their choices become questionable. Their sharp edges dull into indecision or indulgence. What remains is only a shadow of the person they used to be.

Writers from ancient times have used this to devastating emotional effect. Shakespeare’s King Lear is a haunting example — a once-commanding ruler who relinquishes his power, only to spiral into madness and despair as he realizes what he’s lost. His downfall sends ripples through his kingdom and his family, creating chaos and grief in his wake.

This kind of arc — when done well — creates emotional gravity. It forces other characters to step into roles they never expected, and it reveals how much of the story’s balance was being quietly held by that once-formidable figure.

⸻

Echoes of Power

We see this dynamic play out in countless ways:

• A brilliant leader becomes consumed with doubt.

• A confident protector turns bitter or reckless.

• A revered parent begins to emotionally disappear before anyone is ready.

The character doesn’t become irrelevant — far from it. Their decline becomes the story. Their presence still looms, their voice still matters, but their grip is slipping. They aren’t what they were… and that breaks something open in the narrative.

⸻

How It Affects the Others

The power of this kind of arc isn’t just in the character’s unraveling — it’s in how others react to it:

• Someone must rise. Often reluctantly.

• Someone will grieve — even if the person is still alive. This can be shown in a slow goodbye to the character who is fading. 

• Someone may take advantage of the power vacuum.

• And someone might try, desperately, to save them — or hold onto the memory of who they used to be.

This emotional shift reshapes the entire dynamic of the cast. Relationships fracture or deepen. Motives change. And the audience watches, heart in hand, as everyone tries to find their footing in the absence of a once-solid anchor. These kind of stories mirror life and show the fragility of relationships and people in leadership. 

⸻

A Few Subtle Examples

• The Godfather: Part II – Michael Corleone becomes more powerful and more hollow, leaving others to bear the emotional weight of his isolation.

• Scarface – Tony Montana claws his way to the top, but as his empire grows, so does his instability. He becomes erratic, paranoid, and self-destructive — a shadow of the bold man he once was.

• The Last Jedi – Luke Skywalker’s fall from mythic status forces Rey to redefine what leadership and hope look like.

And in shows like Foundation, you might feel that shift most acutely when a previously intimidating figure like Brother Day begins to unravel into indulgence or instability, leaving the empire — and the viewer — with more questions than confidence.

⸻

Why It Matters

The theme of heroes falling — of once-powerful characters losing their focus, values, or clarity — is more than a plot device. It mirrors real life. We’ve all seen parents, mentors, or leaders change — weaken — and felt that ache of trying to hold on to who they once were.

In Foundation, Brother Day goes from being a force to be reckoned with, overcoming grueling pilgrimages and assassination attempts, to a man more interested in gratifying himself than guarding the future of the Empire. His presence still lingers — but others are now forced to step up, or step away.

As writers, embracing this truth brings depth to your cast. It opens space for secondary characters to grow, evolve, and confront their own beliefs about strength, loyalty, and identity. If you have defined the desires and motives of your characters, you can use plot twists like these to flesh out and deepen secondary or supporting characters. This is one way of introducing deeper layers of character development into the story and help your audience develop a deeper connection to the stories you create. 

So when you write your next story, don’t be afraid to let your giants fall. Not every decline is a failure. Sometimes, it’s what makes a story unforgettable.

Letting a character descend — in pride, in power, in purpose — can mirror real life more accurately. Because just as kingdoms and empires have risen and fallen throughout history, so too must our characters rise… and sometimes fall.

Sometimes a character’s struggle comes from inside them. Through their flaws. If you want to continue this theme of flawed characters who are overcome by their internal struggles, read the article Building Imperfectly Perfect Characters: Understanding Flaws and Growth. This article describes the importance of creating character flaws and how they humanize the individuals in our stories. 

✨ Want a little writing support? Download my free guide: The Creative’s Writing Desk.

✍️ Ready to publish your book with confidence?

Grab your copy of You Are the Author: Creating and Selling Your First Book by J.E. Nickerson—a clear, encouraging guide to help you write, publish, and launch your first book the smart way. Finally—answers to your biggest self-publishing questions

👉 Get the book here »

📚 And if you’re new here, I’m J.E. Nickerson — faith based author and inspirational storyteller. You can check out my books here or follow me on YouTube for more inspiration and encouragement on this writing life.